Stomach cancer symptoms: This sign when you go to the toilet could indicate the disease

STOMACH cancer symptoms can be vague, and are easily mistaken for other less serious conditions, but it’s important to recognise all the signs as the disease is often advanced by the time it’s diagnosed. One of the indicators is linked to the colour of your stool when you go to the toilet.

Stomach cancer is a fairly uncommon type of cancer, but as the symptoms are similar to those of many other conditions, if you experience any signs you should get them checked out by your GP as soon as possible.

The colour of your stool can be a key indicator of your level of health, and a particular colour stool could indicate stomach cancer.

Your poo may be darker, almost black, if your stomach is bleeding, according to Cancer Research UK.

But it notes that your stool can also be darker if you’re taking iron tablets.

Other symptoms to note include difficulty swallowing, weight loss, pain, persistent indigestion and burping, feeling full after eating small amounts, and sickness (vomiting).

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The colour of your stool can be a key indicator of your level of health, and a particular colour stool could indicate stomach cancer

Bleeding in the stomach and feeling tired and breathless can also be indicators.

Symptoms of early stomach cancer can be the same as symptoms of other conditions, such as stomach ulcers.

It is unlikely to be cancer, but it is important to get symptoms checked by a doctor.

The exact cause of stomach cancer is still unclear, but various health bodies say you’re more likely to develop it if you are male, are of 55 years of age or older, smoke, have a diet low in fibre and high in processed food or red meat, or have a diet that contains a lot of salted and pickled foods.

If you don’t get treatment for stomach cancer, it can spread to other parts of your body or organs, such as your liver.

Stomach cancer symptoms: Look out for a particular sign when you go to the toilet (Image: GETTY)